Spike.



No. 723,554. PATENTED MAR.24,1903..

- D. SERVIS. I

. SPIKE.

APPLICATION r1 LED MAY 8, 1902.

NO MODEL.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID SERVIS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SPIKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 723,554, dated March 24, 1903.

Application filed May 8, 1902. Serial No. 106,403. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern: I

Be it known that 1, DAVID SERVIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at 100 Convent avenue, borough of Manhattan, city, county,

and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Spikes, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to spikes, and has for its object to provide a construction which can be readily manufactured from stock of uniform cross-section in the usual manner.

The main feature of improvement in my construction resides in providing a spike with a chisel-point having a cross-sectional area greater than any portion of the body of the spike. Besides this the improvement contemplates the making of the body of the spike having the chisel-point so disposed relatively to the body portion that the angles of the body portion come opposite a surface of the chisel-point and an angle in the chisel-point comes opposite a surface in the body portion of the spike, the chisel-point constituting relatively to the body of the spike a more or less barbed point. Also the body portion of the spike is of substantially uniform cross-sectional area throughout its entire length, so that the pressure of the wood fibers tending to hold the spike in position is uniform and is not negatived by any withdrawing Wedge action, which might result if the body portion were tapered from near the head to the chisel-point. In practical use for railroad purposes it is desirable that the chisel-point shall cut its way through the fibers of the wood at right angles thereto, simply cutting and wedging apart and bending downward the fibers of the wood as it. is driven to position, and that the body of the spike shall be of such character that the cut and bent-down fibers of the wood after the maximum area of the chisel-point has passed shall apply the maximum holding eifect by their tendency to return to original position. The two sections of the spike--namely, the body portion and the chisel-point-must be cooperative, so that while the chisel-point provided with its more or less inclined surfaces and the holding action of the fibers of the body of the spike resist strongly the lifting strains the spike must be susceptible of being withdrawn without destroying the life of the wood fibers and be capable of reuse. Again, the angles formed by the meeting of the inclined sides of the spike should be supline 2 2 of Fig. 4. Fig. 3 is a cross-section along line 3 3 of Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the spike.

' Referring to the drawings in detail, 1 represents the head of the spike, which is of the usual construction, having the main portion of its head projecting on one side to engage the flange of a rail.

The body portion 2 of the spike is preferably made of substantially the cross-sectional shape illustrated in Fig. 2, in which there is shown a comparatively broad bearing front face -3, which is placed immediately under the overhanging portion of the head of the spike. The sides 4 of the spike are inclined toward each other and form angles, which are designated by the numeral 5. The rear surface of the body portion of the spike (designated by the numeral 6) is of less area than the front portion, giving more inclination to the rear surfaces 4t.

7 designates the chisel-point. This chiselpoint has a greater maximum cross-sectional area than any portion of the body of the spike, as will be seen from the cross-sectional views, Figs. 2 and At the point of junction of the chisel-point with the body portion of the spike there are provided inclined surfaces 8, which may be of more or less inclination, according to the character of the work for which the spike is intended. These inclined surfaces if they are provided with a gradual inclination will permit of the more easy withdrawal of the spike. It will be seen that each of the angles of the chisel-point has opposed to it a plain surface in the body portion of the spike and that between the sides of the body portion of the spike and the head of the chisel-point there are provided intermediate inclined shoulders 8, before mentioned.

The operation of the device in use will be plain. As the spike is driven down into the wood the chisel-point will cut the fibers and bend them down, and as the head or maximum cross-sectional area passes the natural tendency of the fibers of the wood to reassume the original position will assert itself and they will crowd against and tenaciously hold or wedge against the sides of the spike over the inclined surfaces 8, as well as against the front and back of the spike, thus absolutely resisting all service strains tending to dislodge the spike from position. At the same time under the extraordinary lifting action of a claw-bar when the spike is to be withdrawn the inclined surfaces 8 permit of the gradual bending over of the fibers of the wood without breaking them down or rupturing them to permit of the passage of the chisel point with its maximum .cross sectional area.

By this construction the fibers of the wood are cut to permit of the passage of the chiselpoint without rupturing or breaking them down, and when in position the spike is positively and tenaciously held; yet when the spike is' withdrawn the inclined shoulders between the body portion of the spike and the head of the chisel-point gradually bend over the fibers in the opposite direction, so that the hole from which the spike is withdrawnmay be used again and again without destroying the holding effect of the surrounding fibers.

What is claimed as new is- 1. A spike comprising a body portion having a plurality of flat surfaces and corners and of uniform cross-sectional area throughout its entire length, and a chisel-point also provided with fiat surfaces and corners, the maximum cross-sectional area of the head of the chisel-point being greater than the crosssectional area of any portion of the body of the spike, the corners of the body portion being opposite the Hat surfaces of the point and the corners of the point being opposite the fiat surfaces of the body portion.

2. A spike comprising a body portion having a plurality of flat surfaces and of uniform cross-sectional area throughout its entire length, and a chisel-point also provided with flat surfaces, the maximum cross-sectional area of the head of the point being greater than the cross-sectional area of any portion of the body of the spike,said point being provided with independent inclined shoulders intermediate its maximum cross sectional area and the body of the spike.

3. A spike comprising a body portion having a plurality of flat surfaces and of uniform cross sectional area throughout its entire length,the said surfaces being inclined toward each other forming corners, and a point also provided with flat surfaces and corners, the maximum cross-sectional area of the head of the point being greater than the cross-sew tional area of any portion of the body of the spike, the corners of the body portion being opposite the flat surfaces of the point and the corners of the point being opposite the flat surfaces of the body portion.

4. A spike comprising a body portion having a plurality of flat surfaces and of uniform cross -sectional area throughout its entire length, the said surfaces of the body portion being inclined toward each other, and a chiselpoint, the maximum. cross-sectional area of the head of said point being greater than the cross-sectional area of any portion of the body of the spike, and inclined shoulders or surfaces intermediate the head of the point and the body portion of the spike.

5. A spike comprising a body portionhaving a plurality of flat surfaces and of uniform cross sectional area throughout its entire length, the front of the body portion being an extended flat surface and the side surfaces inclined toward each other, a chisel-point, the head of which has a maximum cross-sectional area greater than the cross-sectional area of any portion of the body of the spike, and inclined surfaces or shoulders between the head of the chisel-point and the body portion of the spike, the angles formed by the inclined surfaces of the body portion lying opposite the flat surfaces of the chisel-point.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 6th day of May, 1902.

' DAVID SERVIS.

Witnesses:

ERNEST HOPKINSON, H. RICHARD WOBSE. 

